School bonds defeated

Both local education bond issues lost in last week’s primary election.

Measure A called for almost $40 million in bonds to build a new gymnasium and renovate the existing gym.

This was the second time the same project was quashed by the voters. The difference between 2020’s Measure A and 2018’s Measure E, also rejected, was that Measure A did not include a swimming pool.

Under Measure A, taxpayers would pay $30 in additional tax for for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

The measure, which required a 55% approval, failed with 50.57% voting yes and 49.57 voting no.

One of the proponents for the Measure A bond issue and seen on social media was Orquidea Ocampo. “I’m disappointed that it did not pass because the schools need the funds to build a new gym and update the current one,” Ocampo said. “The existing one does not accommodate the student population and the elementary has buildings that are outdated and need to be modernized; however, the people have spoken and that’s what makes our country great. We have a democracy and the voters decided to vote no. I can respect that.”

In another school bond issue, Measure C would have authorized the Wasco Union Elementary School District to issues $16 million in bonds in three phases. This, too, needed a 55% yes vote to pass. All precincts have reported in and the measure lost with 51.03% yes votes and 48.93 no votes.

“We are saddened that Measure C did not pass,” Palm Avenue Principal Oscar Luna said. “We are still waiting on our county to make the results official so we could return to strategic planning. We thank our Wasco community for their support. “

When asked how he felt about the WUESD bond measure not passing, WUESD board member Danny Rueda said last week, optimistically, “They are still counting ballots.”

The results in other races were no surprise, except, perhaps in Congress.

On the Democratic side of the presidential primary were Bernie Sanders with 33.6%, Joe Biden with 24.9%, Michael Bloomberg with 14.3% and Elizabeth Warren with 12.0%.

Since election, Bloomberg and Warren have both dropped out of the race.

Of local interest was the race for fourth district supervisor, as incumbent David Couch held onto his seat versus Emilio Huerta. political activist and son of civil rights leader Dolores Huerta.

He is a civil rights attorney who previously ran for the U.S. 21st Congressional District in 2016, losing to David Valadao.

In the vote last week, Couch had 53.82% of the vote, while Huerta received 46.18%.

For Congress, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy had 71.5% of the vote -- no general election needed -- while TJ Cox had 45.99% versus former Republican congressmen Valadao with 38.56% in Kern County results. Valadeo held a lead over Cox overall, however, due to his support in Kings County. Democrat Ricardo de la Fuente came in with 13.07%.

Under the state’s open primary system, the two top vote-getters will face a runoff in the general election in November.

Proposition 13, which authorizes bonds for facility repair, construction and modernization of public preschools, K-12 schools, community colleges and universities failed, with 55.9% no votes and 44.1% yes votes.

The two cannabis bills both failed in Kern County.